Controlling from a distant point the operation of a mechanism or instrument.



0. BERGER. v CONTROLLING FROM A DISTANT POINT THE OPERATION OF A MECHANISM 0R INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 26, 1909.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

5mm n t-oz, Bugger cu Tu vumw @m u km C m Q whiz wows /1:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'OHRISTIAN BEBGER, F BUDA PES'I, AUSTRIA-IdIUNGARY, ASSIGNOR TO SUBM ARINE WIRELESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLING A DISTANCE rom'r THE ornna'rron or .& moanmsm on INSTRUMENT. r

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 1\Ia1 11, 1913;

Application filedAugust 26, 1909. Serial No. 514,762.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN Brno-En, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Buda est, in Austria-Hungary, have in-' certain new and useful Improve-.

One of the main objects hereof is to permit the control of a given operation by means of sound waves or similar air pulsations created at a distant point; for example, according hereto one might, by whistling or clapping the hands at one point in a room, cause the operation of a toy or the lighting of a light or similar operation at another part of the room.

Other and more specific objects will appear in the hereinafter following description. According hereto the operation of controlling from a distant point the operation of a "mechanism or instrument consists substantially in creating at the distant pointthe pulsations or sound waves in air or other fluid, receiving the same at the place of location of the mechanism or instrument by means of a sensitive device such as a microphone which is adapted to change or decrease the normal current in an electrical circuit, causing the'current in such circuit to flow through a magnet coil having an armature connected to or forming part of the mechanism oi instrument to be controlled, and providing for such armature a 0 force tending to withdraw it from said magnet, such force being inoperative under'normal current. conditions and insutlicient to withdraw the armature, but-operative and sufficient to withdraw the armature with the l5 decreased current due to the effect of the air pulsations on the microphone. Preferably the normal current is'insufiicient to cause the return of the armature when withdrawn, so that when the armature is released it is beso yond the power of the magnet coil to restore it.

The apparatus which I prefer'for carrying out the present invention comprises the so arranged and fitted as to shift when said three following elements in a combination: First, a microphone circuit containing a microphone which will be sensitive to sound waves or like pulsations received from the distant point, and the microphone being adapted when affected by pulsations to modify the normal electric current insuch circuit. Second, an electro-magnet adapted to have its magnetic pull modified through the modification of current insaid circuit. Third, a shiftable part such as an armature,

magnet is modified from a first position to a second position, the first position being preferably within the operative influence of the magnet and the second posit-ion beyond such influence.

. With such apparatus the efiect of the sound waves on the microphone is to increase the resistance and cause a fall of current in the circuit so that an electro-magnet in the circuit is weakened, owing to which the armature previously held by the magnet is released so that gravity or a spring may cause the armatures shifting and so that in turn the shifting of the armature may bringaboutthe operation of the mechanism or instrument to-be controlled. Preferably the shifting of the armature will be employed to close a second circuit through which the desired control and operation are eifected.

Experiments have shown that if the magnet can again attract its armature by means of the restored current when the sound action ceases, and thus bring it again into original position ready for working, the result is uhsatisfactory as compared with my preferred form. The strength of the current as well as the resistance of the microphone, are subject to various fluctuations. For instance, the extent of ,the increase of resistance in the microphone when sound action takes place, as well as the decrease of resistance after the cessation of the sound action, are not constant, so that the strength of current does not always decrease to the same extent, and, therefore, does not always return to the original value. Accordingly, Y

too

when the counter force of the spring is once adjusted, inmany cases the fall of current 'some cases the increase of current which .is at rest, and the conditions or" current are calculated so that in the position of rest, the strength of current in the microphone circuit should not be suflicient for again at tracting'the armature, the resetting of the latter being effected by separate resetting.

parts, operated by hand or automatically. The adjustment of the device can then be effected in a more accurate manner, and the device is much lessafiected by changes in in the the microphone resistance and strength of current whereby the reliability of working of the device is greatly in-.

creased.

I will first describe and illustrate more or less diagrammatically one or more forms n1 whlch the present improvements may be embodied, and Will afterward point out in the claims the features of novelty.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a simple form of embodiment of the present invention in which ,the shifting armature is returned by hand. Fig. 2 shows the diagram of an embodiment providing for automatic return'of the armature, and in which a third, current circuit,'the real working circuit, is operated b y a second current circuit.

In a single circuit are the battery 6, the microphone m, and the coil 6 of electro-magnet R which,, in the position of rest of the device, keeps its armature a attracted in opposition to the action of the spring 0. hen the microphone is struck by sound 7 waves or other vibrations, the armature a is pulled off by the spring 0 and, in the construction illustrated, closes the circuit of the lamp Z at the contact f. By reassign-of this movement of the armature devices of many kinds, such as toys, lighting devices,

signaling apparatus and the like, can be operated. After the cessation of the sound action, it may be desired that the operating circuit, in the present case that of the lamp Z, be broken again andthe armature brought back to the magnet. This in the present example, is eflected by pressure upon a bar D, which yields, and which ushes the armature back to original position.

In order to "nable the armatures return to be automatically accomplished, a separatereturn electro-magnet could be inserted into before referred to,

the operating circuit, and on the said circuit being closed, would bring the armatureback to its electro-magnetand at the same time break the operating circuit. Such an arrangement is shown in the construction In Fig. 2 in which 9 is the return electro-magnet. Owing to the instantaneous breaking of the operating circuit 9 by the return electro-magnet, only a brief or single current impulse is sent into the operating circuit at each operation of the sound impulses,

' the said impulse being turtherutilized if de- 'slred by means of suitable devices.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, this current impulse operates an elcctro-niagnet h and its armature j constituting part of an electromagnet switch which switches then in a third circuit,, the real working circuit r. Into the third'circuit r can be connected, for instance, an incandescent lamp, an electric motor or any other device Z. If the armature j, normally held back by its spring, is attracted by a current impulse in the-circuit 1 its end, formed into a hook or awl moves a ratchet or notched wheel Z: to the extent of one division, and inthat way throws into or out of contact the switch parts m, n of well known kind. The switch shown in the present case comprises a square contact plate m carried by wheel m, and the corners of which engage, when the plate is revolved, with the contact spring at. The circuit 7 -lQ2ldS to the'pivot of the plate m which has the ratchet disk Z: rigidly connected thereto, and the current returns through spring n when a corner of.m' is engaged therewith.

The microphone can be excited in an equally successful manner both by harmonic oscillations and by sudden sounds, as wellas by mechanical vibrations such as hammermg, etc.

For the purpose of preventing any sound waves, excepting of a certain predetermined pitch, from acting on the microphone, the latter can be provided,with a tuned.diaphragm, or interchangeable diaphragmsof difierent responsiveness can be used. These do not need to be specifically illustrated since tuned microphones'are already known,- and the microphones m, m, in the drawings may be considered as such. By this, a so und, for *example a whistle, of a given pitch, may operate the mechanism or instrument .(la-mp circuit, or toy,- etc.) whereas a whistle of another/pitch would be of no effect. l

I It'will be seen that by the above described and illustrated embodiments I have accomplished the advantages and objects hereinand other advantages and functions will be apparent to those ac qua nted with the sub3ect.

Since many specific features ofarangement, combination and detail shown herein may be varied without departing from the 'main principles, I do. not intend to restrict myself thereto, excepting so far as specified respectively in the appended claims.

I What I'claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus for the wireless operation of switches and other apparatus from a distance by sound waves and other vibrations the combination of an electric circuit a source of current, a mlcrophone and an electromagnetic relay in said circuit, an armature to said relay adhering to the relay magnet in the state of rest of the microphone, a second electric circuit including said armature, a source of current therefor and an indicating device operable thereby and a spring adapted to pull said armature from the relay magnet and to close the second circuit when the current in the microphone circuit is weakened by sound waves or other vibrations, the conditions in the microphone cir- .an electromagnetic relay in said circuit, an

armature to said relay, a second electric circuit including said armature, a source of current therefor, and an indicating device operatedthereby, a spring adapted to pull said armature from the relay magnet and to close the second circuit when the current in the microphonecircuit is weakened by sound waves or other vibrations, and an auxiliary electromagnet 1n said second circuit adapted to return said armature to the relay magnet when the second circuit is closed.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an electric cir-.

cuit, a source of current, a microphone, and an electromagnetic relay in said circuit, an armature to said relay, a second. electric circuit including said armature, a source of current therefor and an electromagnetic switch adapted to be operated by said second circuit, means for pulling said armature from the relay magnet and for closing thesecond circuit when the current in the microphone circuit is weakened by soundwaves 9r other vibrations, and means distinct from said relay magnet for returning the armature to the magnet controlled by said second circuit '1 4. 1m an apparatus of the character. describedthe combination-of a circuit containin \I a microphone, electromagnetic relay in said circuit, an armature to said relay, a

operate any desired indicating device, said wheel being rotated by said pawl, a spring adapted to pull the armature fro-m the relay magnet and to close the second circuit when the current in the microphone circuit is weakened by sound waves or other vibra-- tions, and an auxiliary electromagnet in said second circuit adapted to return said armature to the relay magnet when the second circuit is closed.

5. Apparatus for controlling from a distant point the operation of a mechanism or instrument, comprising, in combination, a

microphone circuit containing a microphone sensitive to sound waves or like pulsations received from the distant point, said microphone adapted when affected by pulsations to modify the normal electric current in said circuit, an electro-magnet adapted to have its magnetic pull modified through the modification of current in said circuit, and a shiftable armature or part so arranged and fitted as to shift, when said magnet is modified, from a first posit-ion within the operative influence of said magnet to a second position beyond the operative influence thereof.

6. Apparatus for cont-rolling froma distant point the operation of a mechan sm or instrument, comprising, in combinat1on,a microphone circuit phone sensitive to sound waves or llke pulsations received from the distant point, said microphone adapted'when affected by pulsations to modify the normal electric current in said circuit, an electro-magnet adapted to have its magnetic pull modified through the modification of current in said circuit, and a shiftable armature or part so arranged and fitted as to shift, when said magnet is modified, from a first position within the operative influence of said magnet to a second position beyond the operative influence thereof, and means other than said magnet for causing the restoration of said armature to first osition.

7. A paratus for controlhng'froma distant point the operation of a mechanism or instrument, comprising, in combination, a

microphone circuit containing a micro phone sensitive to sound waves or like pulsations received from the distant point, said microphone adapted when affected by pulsas tions to modify the normal electric current in said circuit, an electro-ma containing a micro et adapted to t have its magnetic pull modi ed through the modification of current in said circuit, and

a shiftable armature or part so arranged and fitted as to shift, when said magnet is modified, from a first position within the operative in ence of said magnet to a second position beyond the operative influence thereof, and means other than said magnet from the distant point, said microphone adapted when affected by pulsations to modify the normal electric-current in said circuit, an electro-magnet adapted to have its magnetic pull modified through the modification of current in said circuit, and a shiftable armature or part so arranged and fitted as to shift, when said magnet is modified, from a firstposition Within the operative influence of said magnet to a second position beyond the operative influence thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHRISTIAN BERGER; lVitnesses:

ARTHUR B. SINGER, MICHAEL FONIOR. 

